No matter what Billboard reads at the beginning of every week, the #1 song in America will always be its cherished National Anthem.
Though a beacon of American pride, it’s become a playground for many singers – both aspiring and seasoned.
Today, From The Vault takes you back to a rather controversial rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ by the one and only Christina Aguilera.
In 2010, Aguilera released her ill-fated fourth English album, ‘Bionic.’ Unlike its predecessors, it never set the charts alight and was unfairly panned by critics.
With her then-latest effort underperforming and an odd media-orchestrated “feud” with Lady Gaga (who was on top of the world at that very time), it seemed there wasn’t much goodwill for Ms. Christina at the beginning of the 2010s.
So what better way to turn things around than singing the National Anthem at the Superbowl? Indeed, no gimmick, just Christina and that voice. What could go wrong, right?
Unfortunately, the performance made headlines. But not for the best of reasons: despite serving a solid vocal, Xtina seemed to have forgotten a few words of the famed anthem.
The blowback was monumental for the star, but she was able to redeem herself a few weeks later when she tackled yet another classic, ‘Ain’t No Way’ by the legendary Aretha Franklin at the GRAMMY Awards. By the time ‘The Voice’ launched its very first season with her as a part of the coaching panel, all was forgotten.
Clearly, that performance was not giving Whitney, but thankfully it wasn’t giving Fergie either.
Here’s to many more memorable renditions of the US National Anthem, good, bad, and in between.